Archive for the ‘progress’ Category

Recently I was at the dentist for whitening and fitting for Invisalign braces. While my lips were stretched open into a strange grimace for 40 minutes while my breathing sounded somewhat Darth Vader-like, I was thinking, “Boy what pain we go through to feel better about ourselves!” In that dentist’s chair, it occurred to me that most things that bring us true progress cause some pain. Perhaps we have to move on from an unhealthy relationship–even when it’s for our best, we still mourn the loss of that person in our lives. Moving to a new state? It hurts to leave our friends, and sometimes our families, in our wake.

With this in mind, it makes sense that it’s more than likely going to be somewhat painful to get organized. The type of pain one suffers during the organization of their possessions is different for everyone. Just having your stuff touched or moved at all can cause stress to some. During the sorting process, depending on the level of sorting, items may be in stacks, piles, or bins around a room. Just walking into that room during the sorting process may be enough to cause pain for many. (I have several clients who choose to not be part of that step as it’s too stressful for them.) For others, the actual “letting go” of items is very stressful. That quilt from Aunt Ursula which now contains holes strategically placed by mice–and perhaps other signs of their living there–is now unhealthy to hold onto, but hard to let go of just the same.

However, just like losing 50 pounds can result in years added to your lifespan, the progress achieved will be amazing enough to supersede the pain. In its place will be previously-unrealized joy! The empowering freedom you will feel from having gone through the process to attain this new place in your life will be immeasurable, and well worth it. So jump in, let’s organize the chaos. I’ll be smiling at you the entire time with straight, white teeth.